三乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯为交联剂制备的高吸水树脂对重金属的吸附

以前期工作中合成的树脂PAANa-TE为吸附剂进行重金属吸附测试,考察吸附剂用量、丙烯酸中和度、吸附时间、溶液pH、初始浓度和吸附温度对树脂吸附重金属离子Cu2+、Pb2+、Cr3+和Co2+性能的影响,用原子吸收分光光度计测定了树脂吸附Cu2+、Pb2+、Cr3+和Co2+后的残留浓度,树脂对4种金属离子的吸附容量分别为21.59、2.39、5.66和4.98 mmol/g,吸附容量大小为Cu2+Cr3+Co2+Pb2+,吸附速率顺序为Cr3+Pb2+Cu2+Co2+。结果表明,该树脂对高浓度重金属离子有较快速,高效率的吸附,吸附过程在100 min左右吸附容量达到最大,并用不同浓度的酸对吸附重金属离子的树脂进行脱附处理,脱附量很小,据此可考虑进一步对金属离子进行回收处理。且脱附率较低,因此,可对工业化和城市化进程所产生的各种化学形态的重金属水体污染物造成的生态环境和质量问题起到重要的改善作用。     

Competitive biosorption of lead, cadmium, copper, and arsenic ions using algae

The present study aims to evaluate the competitive biosorption of lead, cadmium, copper, and arsenic ions by using native algae. A series of experiments were carried out in a batch reactor to obtain equilibrium data for adsorption of single, binary, ternary, and quaternary metal solutions. The biosorption of these metals is based on ion exchange mechanism accompanied by the release of light metals such as calcium, magnesium, and sodium. Experimental parameters such as pH, initial metal concentrations, and temperature were studied. The optimum pH found for removal were 5 for Cd²⁺ and As³⁺ and 3 and 4 for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺, respectively. Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy analysis was used to find the effects of functional groups of algae in biosorption process. The results showed that Pb²⁺ made a greater change in the functional groups of algal biomass due to high affinity to this metal. An ion exchange model was found suitable for describing the biosorption process. The affinity constants sequence calculated for single system was K _Pb > K _Cu > K _Cd > K _As; these values reduced in binary, ternary, and quaternary systems. In addition, the experimental data showed that the biosorption of the four metals fitted well the pseudo-second-order kinetics model.     

Selective removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by adsorption on mangosteen peel

Mangosteen peel, rich in polyphenolic compounds, was used to prepare the adsorbent exhibiting highly selective adsorption for Cr(VI) over other metal ions such as Pb²⁺, Fe³⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Cr³⁺ at the pH values of 1～4. The chemical modification method proposed by using calcium hydroxide is quite cost-effective and ecofriendly without using any toxic reagents or causing any secondary pollution. The adsorption isotherm results revealed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on the gel fit well the Langmuir adsorption model, and the maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) at pH levels 1, 2, 3, and 4 was evaluated to be 2.46, 2.44, 1.99, and 2.14 mol/kg, respectively. The adsorption mechanism for Cr(VI) on the saponified gel was verified to follow an esterifiaction reaction coupled with the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in which H⁺ plays a role of promoter. Thus, modified mangosteen peel gel has the prominent selectivity and low cost for Cr(VI) removal.     

Multi-component adsorption of copper,nickel and zinc from aqueous solutions onto activated carbon prepared from date stones

The removal of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Zn²⁺ ions from their multi-component aqueous mixture by sorption on activated carbon prepared from date stones was investigated. In the batch tests, experimental parameters were studied, including solution pH, contact time, initial metal ions concentration, and temperature. Adsorption efficiency of the heavy metals was pH-dependent and the maximum adsorption was found to occur at around 5.5 for Cu, Zn, and Ni. The maximum sorption capacities calculated by applying the Langmuir isotherm were 18.68 mg/g for Cu, 16.12 mg/g for Ni, and 12.19 mg/g for Zn. The competitive adsorption studies showed that the adsorption affinity order of the three heavy metals was Cu²⁺?>?Ni²⁺?>?Zn²⁺. The test results using real wastewater indicated that the prepared activated carbon could be used as a cheap adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals in aqueous solutions.     

多孔水凝胶P（HEA/AMPS）对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附

以2-丙烯酸羟乙酯（HEA）和2-丙烯酰胺基-2-甲基丙磺酸（AMPS）为单体合成了聚合物水凝胶（PHEA/AMPS）,采用水凝胶对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附行为进行了研究。实验主要考察了聚合物组分、溶液pH、初始Fe（Ⅲ）浓度和吸附时间对水凝胶吸附作用的影响,并通过FT-IR和XPS分析了吸附前后水凝胶的变化。结果表明,当单体摩尔比AMPS∶HEA=1∶1,pH=2时,水凝胶对Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附容量最大。水凝胶对水溶液中Fe（Ⅲ）的吸附容量随着溶液中初始Fe3＋浓度的增加而增加,但当初始Fe3＋的浓度达到1 g/L时,吸附容量基本达到饱和。吸附等温线符合Langmuir等温线方程,吸附动力学符合准二级模型。FI-IR和XPS的分析表明,水凝胶的磺酸基和酰胺基是吸附Fe3＋的有效功能性基团,吸附机理为螯合和离子交换。     

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic Fe3O4@CaSiO3 composites and evaluation of their adsorption characteristics for heavy metal ions

A two-component material (Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃) with an Fe₃O₄ magnetite core and layered porous CaSiO₃ shell from calcium nitrate and sodium silicate was synthesized by precipitation. The structure, morphology, magnetic properties, and composition of the Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃ composite were characterized in detail, and its adsorption performance, adsorption kinetics, and recyclability for Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cr³⁺ adsorption were studied. The Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃ composite has a 2D core–layer architecture with a cotton-like morphology, specific surface area of 41.56 m²/g, pore size of 16 nm, and pore volume of 0.25 cm³/g. The measured magnetization saturation values of the magnetic composite were 57.1 emu/g. Data of the adsorption of Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cr³⁺ by Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃ fitted the Redlich–Peterson and pseudo-second-order models well, and all adsorption processes reached equilibrium within 150 min. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃ toward Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and Cr³⁺ were 427.10, 391.59, and 371.39 mg/g at an initial concentration of 225 mg/L and a temperature of 293 K according to the fitted curve with the Redlich–Peterson model, respectively. All adsorption were spontaneous endothermic processes featuring an entropy increase, including physisorption, chemisorption, and ion exchange; among these process, chemisorption was the primary mechanism. Fe₃O₄@CaSiO₃ exhibited excellent adsorption, regeneration, and magnetic separation performance, thereby demonstrating its potential applicability to removing heavy metal ions.

     

矸石基X型分子筛对水中Co2+、Cu2+、Cd2+和Cr3+的去除

以煤矸石为原料,采用碱熔后水热合成法制备X型分子筛并进行XRD、SEM、BET和Zeta电位分析。研究其对水中Co2+、Cu2+、Cd2+和Cr3+4种离子的吸附性能,包括吸附等温线、吸附动力学以及初始金属离子浓度、pH值对吸附性能的影响。所合成的矸石基X型分子筛的BET比表面积为676.02 m2/g,微孔孔容为0.263 cm3/g。吸附实验表明,矸石基X型分子筛能有效去除上述4种离子,同时实现煤矸石的资源化和金属离子的去除。4种离子的平衡吸附量均随初始浓度的增大而增大,相同条件下平衡吸附量的大小顺序为Cd2+>Cr3+>Cu2+>Co2+。准二级动力学模型能很好地描述4种离子的吸附动力行为。Langmuir模型对Co2+、Cu2+和Cd2+吸附的拟合较Freundlich模型高,说明其主要表现为物理吸附过程。4种离子的吸附速率均由液膜扩散和颗粒内扩散共同控制。     

巯基化改性膨润土对重金属的吸附性能

以钙基膨润土为基本材料,制备了巯基化改性膨润土,并对比研究了此材料与其他17种改性膨润土和原材料对重金属的吸附性能.结果表明,巯基化膨润土对镉的吸附能力显著优于其他材料,在本实验条件下,其对镉的吸附率高于其他材料30％以上,对镉的吸附量可达52.1 mg/g.巯基化膨润土对铅的吸附能力在重金属竞争吸附条件下优于其他材料,而其对镍的吸附能力在所有材料中处于中等水平;另外,巯基化膨润土对3种重金属的吸附受重金属竞争吸附影响较小.因此,在所研究的材料中,巯基化膨润土材料是一种最理想的重金属吸附材料.     

液/固体系中硅藻土对Pb2+和Cd2+的吸附机制

为了提高硅藻土在重金属废水处理上的应用水平,采用静态吸附实验考察了液/固体系中硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的吸附影响因素、吸附等温线和吸附动力学属性。结果表明,随着投加量的减少,离子初始浓度的提高,pH值的增大,吸附作用时间的延长,硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋吸附量不断上升;硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的等温吸附都符合Langmuir模型,硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋最大吸附量分别为10.428 mg/g和7.916 mg/g,硅藻土对Pb2＋具有更好的吸附能力;Pb2＋具有较低的水合自由能,更容易脱去水膜与硅藻土孔道内的活性基团发生吸附作用;双常数扩散方程可以很好地描述硅藻土对Pb2＋、Cd2＋的吸附动力学属性,硅藻土对Cd2＋有较快的吸附速率。     

Removal and recovery of copper and nickel ions from aqueous solution by poly(methacrylamide-co-acrylic acid)/montmorillonite nanocomposites

Nanocomposite hydrogels based on poly(methacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and nano-sized montmorillonite were prepared by aqueous dispersion and in situ radical polymerization. Optimum sorption conditions were determined as a function of montmorillonite content, contact time, pH, and temperature. The equilibrium data of Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ conformed to the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms in terms of relatively high regression values. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of the nanocomposite hydrogel (with 3 wt% montmorillonite content), as obtained from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, was found to be 49.26 and 46.94 mg g^?1 for Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺, respectively, at contact time?=?60 min, pH?=?6.8, adsorbent dose?=?100 mg/ml, and temperature?=?318 K. Kinetic studies of single system indicated that the pseudo-second order is the best fit with a high correlation coefficient (R ²?=?0.97–0.99). The result of five times sequential adsorption–desorption cycle shows a good degree of desorption and a high adsorption efficiency.     

Silver-modified clinoptilolite for the removal of Escherichia coli and heavy metals from aqueous solutions

This paper investigates the potential of using the silver antibacterial properties combined with the metal ion exchange characteristics of silver-modified clinoptilolite to produce a treatment system capable of removing both contaminants from aqueous streams. The results have shown that silver-modified clinoptilolite is capable of completely eliminating Escherichia coli after 30-min contact time demonstrating its effectiveness as a disinfectant. Systems containing both E. coli and metals exhibited 100 % E. coli reduction after 15-min contact time and maximum metal adsorption removal efficiencies of 97, 98, and 99 % for Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Zn²⁺ respectively after 60 min; 0.182–0.266 mg/g of metal ions were adsorbed by the zeolites in the single- and mixed-metal-containing solutions. Nonmodified clinoptilolite showed no antibacterial properties. This study demonstrated that silver-modified clinoptilolite exhibited high disinfection and heavy metal removal efficiencies and consequently could provide an effective combined treatment system for the removal of E. coli and metals from contaminated water streams.     

Evaluation of effectiveness of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate in removing metal toxicity toward sea urchin embryo-larval applying the TIE

Since the development of the TIE (Toxicity Identification and Evaluation) in 1988 it has been assumed that the capacity of EDTA and sodium thiosulfate to complex some metals, and thus remove their toxicity, can be applied to both freshwater and seawater ecotoxicological tests and the results subsequently interpreted. However, it is now known that there is a wide variability in the extent of this complexation. In this context, the removal of toxicity caused by the presence of Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr⁶⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ag¹⁺ and Se²⁺, through metal complexation by EDTA and sodium thiosulfate, in relation to the performance of embryo-larval tests with the sea urchin Arbacia lixula was investigated. It was observed that EDTA was capable of removing the toxicity of Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ while sodium thiosulfate only reduced the toxicity of Ag¹⁺. Compared to the complexation observed in freshwater ecotoxicological tests, the complexing agents used in this study (EDTA and sodium thiosulfate) have a lower capacity to complex metals in the marine ecotoxicological test with A. lixula.     

Effect of Ca2+-ions on the absorption of Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Zn2+ by humic substances

Distribution coefficients for the sorption of Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by peat were determined as a function of the Ca²⁺-content of peat as well as of the Ca²⁺-concentration in the solution. The amount of heavy metal ions taken up was measured for Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Zn²⁺ by atomic absorption spectrometry and for Pb²⁺ by using Pb-212 as a radioactive tracer.The results show that the distribution coefficients of the heavy metal ions increase, if one increases the initial ratio of the $\text{Ca}{}^{\mathrm{2+}}\text{H}{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{-}\text{ions}$ in the peat phase. The distribution coefficients for the heavy metal ions decrease, however, if - at constant initial Ca²⁺-content of the peat - the Ca²⁺-concentration of the solution is increased.     

Simultaneous adsorption and degradation of Zn2+ and Cu2+ from wastewaters using nanoscale zero-valent iron impregnated with clays

Clays such as kaolin, bentonite and zeolite were evaluated as support material for nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) to simultaneously remove Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ from aqueous solution. Of the three supported nZVIs, bentonite-supported nZVI (B-nZVI) was most effective in the simultaneous removal of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ from a aqueous solution containing a 100 mg/l of Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺, where 92.9 % Cu²⁺ and 58.3 % Zn²⁺ were removed. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) revealed that the aggregation of nZVI decreased as the proportion of bentonite increased due to the good dispersion of nZVI, while energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) demonstrated the deposition of copper and zinc on B-nZVI after B-nZVI reacted with Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺. A kinetics study indicated that removing Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ with B-nZVI accorded with the pseudo first-order model. These suggest that simultaneous adsorption of Cu²⁺and Zn²⁺ on bentonite and the degradation of Cu²⁺and Zn²⁺ by nZVI on the bentonite. However, Cu²⁺ removal by B-nZVI was reduced rather than adsorption, while Zn²⁺ removal was main adsorption. Finally, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺ and total Cr from various wastewaters were removed by B-nZVI, and reusability of B-nZVI with different treatment was tested, which demonstrates that B-nZVI is a potential material for the removal of heavy metals from wastewaters.     

木粉/壳聚糖接枝丙烯酸-丙烯酰胺吸附树脂对二元重金属离子溶液中Pb2+的吸附

采用自制木粉/壳聚糖接枝丙烯酸-丙烯酰胺吸附树脂R1、R2、R3对二元金属离子Cu2 +/pb2和Zn2+/pb2+溶液中的吸附性能进行了较系统考察.pb2+离子溶液中存在竞争离子Cu2+、Zn2+时,随竞争离子浓度增加,3种吸附树脂R1、R2、R3对pb2+的吸附量明显下降,而竞争离子吸附量显著增加.二元溶液中各金属离子浓度相同时,3种树脂对竞争离子Cu2+、Zn2+的吸附量大于对pb2+的吸附量;各溶液中分别加入NaCl及NaNO3、尿素后,对pb2+离子的吸附量下降迅速.随吸附树脂用量增加,竞争离子Cu2+、Zn2+的吸附量逐渐减小,pb2+的吸附量在吸附树脂用量0.10 g/L(Zn2 +/pb2+溶液)或0.15 g/L(Cu2+/pb2+溶液)时出现最大值.溶液pH值对树脂吸附性能有显著影响.3.0＜pH＜5.O时,3种树脂对竞争离子和pb2+的吸附量快速增大;5＜ pH ＜9时,树脂对竞争离子和pb2+的吸附量基本不变;9＜pH＜ll时,树脂对pb2+的吸附量减小,而对竞争离子的吸附量或增大或减小.     

Development of an in vitro toxicological test system based on zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>) sperm analysis

The effect of seven heavy metals on the motility parameter of zebrafish sperm was tested in order to develop an in vitro toxicological test system as an alternative to live animal testing. In vitro test systems are currently preferred in ecotoxicology due to their practical and ethical advantages and fish sperm can be a suitable model. A number of studies had been carried out previously on this topic, but the described methods had not been standardized in numerous aspects (donor species, measured endpoint, etc.). In this study, heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, chromium, zinc, nickel, copper, cadmium) were used as reference toxicants with known toxicity to develop a standardized fish sperm in vitro assay. The tested concentrations were determined based on preliminary range finding tests. The endpoints were progressive motility (PMOT, %), curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s), and linearity (LIN, %) measured by a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. According to our results, PMOT was the most sensitive of the three investigated parameters: dose-response curves were observed for each metal at relatively low concentrations. VCL values were less sensitive: higher concentrations were needed to observe changes. Of the three parameters, LIN was the least affected: dose-response relationship was observed only in the case of mercury (e.g., lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of Hg at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 2.5 mg/L for VCL, 5 mg/L for LIN; LOEC of Cu at 120 min: 1 mg/L for PMOT, 5 mg/L for VCL, any for LIN). The order of toxicity as determined by PMOT was as follows: Hg²⁺?>?As³⁺?>?Cd²⁺?>?Cu²⁺?>?Zn²⁺?>?Cr³⁺?>?Ni²⁺. In conclusion, we found that PMOT of zebrafish sperm was an accurate and fast bioindicator of heavy metal load. Sperm analysis can be adopted to estimate the possible toxic effects of various chemicals in vitro. Future investigations should concentrate on the applicability of this assay to other contaminants (e.g., organic pollutants).     

改性花生壳对Cd(Ⅱ)和Pb(Ⅱ)的吸附机理

以前期制得改性块状花生壳为对象,测定改性花生壳等电点,考察离子强度对改性花生壳吸附Cd2+和Pb2+的影响、吸附前后吸附质溶液pH变化情况及蒸馏水、NaCl、HNO3、柠檬酸和EDTA 5种解吸液对Cd2+和Pb2+的解吸效果,并通过X-射线光电子能谱仪和傅里叶变换红外光谱仪对吸附前后的改性花生壳进行表征,推测并证实了改性花生壳对Cd2+和Pb2+可能的吸附机理。结果表明,改性花生壳对Cd2+和Pb2+可能的吸附机理是:Cd2+是通过外层络合、离子交换和内层络合的联合作用被吸附的;Pb2+主要是与改性花生壳上的O、N等活性基团发生内层络合;此外,改性花生壳表面生成的二氧化锰对Cd2+和Pb2+的吸附也起到一定的作用。     

Enhancement of phenanthrene adsorption on a clayey soil and clay minerals by coexisting lead or cadmium

Phenanthrene is commonly present together with heavy metals at many contaminated sites. This study investigated the influence of coexisting lead (Pb²⁺) or cadmium (Cd²⁺) on phenanthrene adsorption on soils. Batch experiments were conducted under different geochemical conditions including pH, mineral structure, organic matter content, and varying amounts of heavy metals. The results showed that the presence of heavy metals in solution at a fixed pH of 5.8 ± 0.1 enhanced phenanthrene adsorption, the extent of which was closely related to the concentrations and the electro-negativity of the metals. The enhancement on phenanthrene adsorption was positively correlated to the amount of adsorbed metals. Although Cd²⁺ is a softer Lewis acid, Pb²⁺ displayed a more significant effect as it was adsorbed to a greater extent on the soil surfaces. Thus, density of cation accumulation appears to be more influential than metal softness in enhancing phenanthrene adsorption. Moreover, with a portion of organic matter removed by heating at 550 °C, there was a stronger enhancement of phenanthrene adsorption by coexisting Pb²⁺, indicating an increasingly dominant mechanisms associated with Pb²⁺ at a lower organic matter content. Similar enhancement phenomenon was observed on bentonite and kaolinite, probably resulting from the cation-π bonding between the adsorbed soft metal cations and the aromatic ring of phenanthrene in solution. The desorption experiments further suggested that the bonding of phenanthrene adsorption was strengthened in the presence of Pb²⁺ and that a larger proportion of adsorbed phenanthrene remained on the soils (residual fraction) even after sequential methanol extractions. Further spectroscopic analyses and surface characterization are required to provide direct evidence of the formation and relative significance of cation-π bond for phenanthrene adsorption.     

Pentachlorophenol dechlorination and simultaneous Cr6+ reduction by Pseudomonas putida SKG-1 MTCC (10510): characterization of PCP dechlorination products, bacterial structure, and functional groups

It is the first report in which a novel psychrotrophic Pseudomonas putida SKG-1 strain was evaluated for simultaneous bioremediation of pentachlorophenol and Cr⁶⁺ under various cultural and nutritional conditions. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) dechlorination products, bacterial structure, and functional groups were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC–MS), scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. The strain was extremely tolerant to excessively higher individual concentration of PCP (1,400 mg l^?1) and Cr⁶⁺ (4,300 mg l^?1). Increasing concentration of PCP and Cr⁶⁺ exerted inhibitory effect on bacterial growth and toxicants’ removal. The strain exhibited growth, and concomitantly remediated both the pollutants simultaneously over a broad pH (7.0–9.0) and temperature (28–32 °C) range; maximum growth, PCP dechlorination (87.5 %), and Cr⁶⁺ removal (80.0 %) occurred at optimum pH 8.0 and 30 °C (from initial PCP 100 mg l^?1 and Cr⁶⁺ 500 mg l^?1) under shaking (150 rpm) within 72 h incubation. Optimization of agitation (125 rpm) and aeration (0.4 vvm) in bioreactor further enhanced PCP dechlorination by ~10 % and Cr⁶⁺ removal by 2 %. A direct correlation existed between growth and bioremediation of both the toxicants. Among other heavy metals, mercury exerted maximum and cobalt minimum inhibitory effect on PCP dechlorination and Cr⁶⁺ removal. Chromate reductase activity was mainly associated with the supernatant and cytosolic fraction of bacterial cells. GC–MS analysis revealed the formation of tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and 2,6-dichlorophenol as PCP dechlorination products. FTIR spectrometry indicated likely involvement of carbonyl and amide groups in Cr³⁺ adsorption, and SEM–EDS showed the presence of chromium on P. putida surface. Thus, our promising isolate can be ecofriendly employed for biotreatment of various industrial wastes contaminated with high PCP and Cr⁶⁺ concentrations.     

Cadmium (Cd2+) removal by nano zerovalent iron: surface analysis, effects of solution chemistry and surface complexation modeling

Nano zerovalent iron (nZVI) is an effective remediant for removing various organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated water sources. Batch experiments were conducted to characterize the nZVI surface and to investigate the effects of various solution properties such as pH, initial cadmium concentration, sorbent dosage, ionic strength, and competitive ions on cadmium removal by nZVI. Energy-dispersive X-ray and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results confirmed removal of Cd²⁺ ions by nZVI through adsorption. Cd²⁺ adsorption decreased in the presence of competitive cations in the order: Zn²⁺?>?Co²⁺?>?Mg²⁺?>?Mn²⁺?=?Cu²⁺?>?Ca²⁺?>?Na²⁺?=?K⁺. Higher concentrations of Cl^? significantly decreased the adsorption. Cadmium removal increased with solution pH and reached a maximum at pH 8.0. The effects of various solution properties indicated Cd²⁺ adsorption on nZVI to be a chemisorption (inner-sphere complexation) process. The three surface complexation models (diffuse layer model, constant capacitance model, and triple layer model) fitted well to the adsorption edge experimental data indicating the formation of nZVI–Cd bidentate inner-sphere surface complexes. Our results suggest that nZVI can be effectively used for the removal of cadmium from contaminated water sources with varying chemical conditions.